Man Drowns at Lake Alan Henry

A 40-year-old man drowned at Lake Alan Henry late Sunday afternoon. It's the third drowning at the lake since it was officially opened to the public in 1995. Lake Alan Henry is about 60 miles southeast of Lubbock, twenty miles southeast of Post, east of U.S. Highway 84.

The drowning victim is Fermin Arreda from the Snyder area. According to the City of Lubbock, Arreda was at the lake with family and friends, and a 5-year-old family friend was swimming in a cove. The little girl apparently panicked for some reason. Arreda jumped in to help and was assisted by some passing boaters, and that's when Arreda went under.

"Once she was recovered, something happened," said Diane Selby, Lake Alan Henry Project Coordinator. "He apparently got caught in some under current or trees underwater and he disappeared. It wasn't noticed until Garza County was notified and found him."

Arreda was underwater for approximately 30 minutes. Eyewitnesses say emergency workers and game wardens then tried to revive Arreda for 30 minutes more. Eyewitnesses also say Arreda was wearing jeans. He was likely at the lake for a day of fishing, not swimming.

Arreda was transported to a Lubbock hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.